Johny Pitts' Black Bricolage exhibition at MEP Paris explores Afropean identity through photography

At the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris, Johny Pitts showcases Black Bricolage, an exhibition that runs until 24 May 2026, delving into the identity of Black Europeans. This display draws from his 2019 publication, Afropean: Notes from Black Europe, which reflects his journeys from winter 2010 to spring 2011. Pitts merges photography, social commentary, postcolonial thought, and autofiction. One striking photograph, Portable Paradise, depicts a 2010 event in Clichy-sous-Bois honoring Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré, whose tragic deaths sparked riots and a state of emergency. Collaborating with artists like Blood Orange, Pitts emphasizes the voices of marginalized urban communities. He redefines the term Afropean as a beacon of hope for Black populations in Europe, stemming from his upbringing in Sheffield by an African-American father and a white English mother.